May smiled at the Tribune’s headline, “Fillmore Says Pay Texas Off.” Even the President was thinking about the new state. (Chapter one, Hope Reborn.)

In the summer of 1850, owning slaves in the South was legal, but the issue threatened to split the northern and southern states. A big question being whether or not it should be legal in new territories in the West—including Texas? A multi-purposed bill of compromise (yes, even back then, politicians took advantage) was offered. It declared California a free state where slavery would be banned, put territorial governments in place for Utah and New Mexico, defined the border between New Mexico and Texas which had been disputed, ended slave trade in the District of Columbia, and urged approval of a new law dealing with runaway slaves.

At first, it seemed to have President Zachary Taylor’s support, but the president soon made it clear that he would do everything he could to defeat it. While Washington’s debate continued, the situation in Texas and New Mexico got worse. Texas claimed a large part of New Mexico, including the capital, Santa Fe and had even sent a representative to take control of the government there. Taylor ordered his Secretary of War to send an order to New Mexico’s military commander to use force in opposition of any attempt by Texas to seize the territory, but the secretary refused convinced that action would have the North and South at war again in no time. President Taylor’s response was to sign the order himself.

On July 4th, 1850, Taylor attended an outdoor Independence Day ceremony standing in the burning sun, then later that night, called the doctor to the White House for stomach pains. Treatments were useless, and five. days later, he died. His vice president, Millard Fillmore from New York and a Whig Party candidate, was sworn-in as president. Fillmore had opposed the congressional compromise on slavery and the western territories. Unlike Taylor, Fillmore believed a national crisis was at hand and that the compromise would help save the Union.

As president, he offered his full support to the bill. After more debate, they decided to vote on each proposal separately. The Senate and House of Representatives approved all parts of the 1850 Compromise, and President Fillmore signed them into law and ended squelched a national crisis though both northern and southern extremists remained bitter.

 

Hope Reborn: (Until the 15th, get the e-book Free on Amazon!)
Loss tests faith and almost eradicates expectation of any happy-ever-after. The decision to temporarily change one’s existence, no matter how successful or how hopeless, can lead to rebirth—in both cases.

New York novelist May Meriwether decides a heroic Texas Ranger will make a great love interest for her new novel’s heroine. Bored to tears and loving adventure—keeps her mind off her solitude—she sets out to the Lone Star State with her constant companion and confidant Chester in tow.
Dreams for a husband and children are relegated to the recesses of her heart; the self-confessed old maid deems it’s too late. But the near-perfect widower resurrects a smidgeon of hope. Only his impenetrable, superstitious religious beliefs stand in the path to her falling head over heels, those and his love for his dead wife. Would there ever be room for her in his heart? And would he give up his fanaticism over God?
An unexpected romance surprises both. Hope is reborn in God’s unfailing love and grace. Can a life built on lies find the Way to confession, forgiveness, and true joy? In a day when the church offers the only stability on the 1850 Texas prairie, these unlikely players find one another and fall in love. But will it be enough?

 

Caryl McAdoo says she’ll never write outside the Christian genre again and has adopted “Praying my story gives God glory!” as her motto. She and husband Ron—high school sweethearts—live with two grandsons in the woods south of Clarksville, the seat of Red River County in Northeast Texas. She enjoys four-wheeling over the 916-acre McAdoo Ranch, horseback riding, and singing the new songs God gives her. For every blessing in her life, including ten children (counting in-loves) and fourteen grandsugars, Caryl credits her relationship with the Lord, and her heart’s desire is to glorify Him.
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